the VOLUNTEER
KAPUTI, KENYA
For students at the Kaputi Primary School in Western Kenya, life with water scarcity meant a dry, scratchy throat, an unshakable sleepiness, a smelly uniform. It’s no wonder they smiled so brightly when Maranatha repaired their well this May, which had been broken for some time. Worn parts are common after prolonged, consistent use. But a broken well was the same thing as no well, and no well meant a return to significant challenges.
Before Maranatha drilled this well in March 2023, Kaputi students had two options for water: a seasonal stream or a borehole. The issue? The sources are two and three kilometers away respectively. Hauling water these distances
sapped time and energy that was needed for household chores or studies.
By drilling and providing on‑demand repairs for the Kaputi community’s water well, Maranatha has transformed the lives of 850 students and their families. But there are still many people struggling without accessible water in Kenya. Individuals across the nation must go to extreme lengths to acquire this basic resource. So Maranatha’s work continues. Where the need for water is great, there is Maranatha’s well drilling rig.
Drawing life‑giving water from the earth. Giving students, parents, friends, and neighbors a reason to smile brightly.
Julie Z. Lee Editor Heather Bergren Managing Editor/Designer
Dustin
Comm Writer
Sidney Needles Writer
UNITED STATES HEADQUARTERS:
Maranatha Volunteers International 990 Reserve Drive Suite 100
Roseville, CA 95678
Phone: (916) 774 7700
Website: www.maranatha.org
Email: info@maranatha.org
IN CANADA:
Maranatha Volunteers International Association c/o V06494C
PO Box 6494, Station Terminal Vancouver, BC V6B 6R3 CANADA
All notices of change of address should be sent to the Maranatha Volunteers International United States address.
MISSION STATEMENT: Maranatha spreads the gospel throughout the world as it builds people through the construction of urgently needed buildings.
About the Cover: Edicta Mejia stands in the Vida en Cristo Seventh-day Adventist Church, which she helped to start. Read her story on page 8.
Photo by Julie Z. Lee
Photo by Maranatha staff
It is May 11, 2025, the last day of my media trip to the Dominican Republic. I have just spent six days visiting 11 congregations. They are all different groups, but nearly all the stories have a commonality beyond the shared need for a place to worship.
Every story begins with an ordinary person who feels convicted to share the gospel. They do this by stepping into areas without a Seventh-day Adventist presence. They volunteer for the challenge of starting a church from the ground up. It’s hard work–it would be much easier to stay in an established church, but the founders don’t see it as a choice. It’s an undeniable calling.
The stories I’ve heard feature laypeople who have taken initiative to invest in their communities. They aren’t waiting on church leadership, like a pastor, to grow their church for them. In fact, many of the groups are so rural or small that few have the luxury of claiming a full-time pastor.
Instead they, themselves, dive into the work. They are going door to door. They are preaching and giving Bible studies. They are feeding the poor. They are making space for the most marginalized people in their society and
LESSONS IN CHURCH CONSTRUCTION SHARING THE Mission
welcoming them into the heart of their congregation.
When I finish my last interview, I write in my notebook, “By the time we come, the church has already been built.”
By the time we come with our mortar and bricks, by the time we send our crews and volunteers, the church has already been built. The foundation has been poured by the passion of these people who have given everything they have to live out the gospel, sharing every resource they have for their community.
Maranatha comes to build them a structure. But these people have already built their church. What a privilege it is for Maranatha to play a part in this work of building the Kingdom of God!
And for me, what a blessing it is to understand what it means to truly build a church.
I, along with many of you reading this, have had the opportunity to step into the mission field dozens of times. We’ve had the privilege of seeing, firsthand, what the mission of Maranatha can do for a congregation. It is transformational!
But if we are going and only seeing the walls we built but not recognizing the church that was already there–the church the locals worked so hard to grow–what are we doing?
If we’re returning without a yearning to help our own communities, what are we doing?
If we only serve in the mission field, but not the mission field at home, what are we doing?
Are we learning anything from these projects? Have we changed at all?
Mission trips pluck us out of our comfort zone and open our eyes to deeper layers of faith. The experience is important and life-changing. But I believe the most radical transformation occurs not on a construction site overseas but when we bring what we’ve learned back home. When we jump into service in our own communities. In the house next door. In the very pews where we sit each Sabbath.
When we begin to build our church.
Julie
Z. Lee is the vice president of marketing for Maranatha
AROUND THE World
A snapshot of volunteers and projects in the mission field.
Our volunteers from the Mission IS Possible team constructed the Pai Ñu Adventist Church.
Community members try out the new water well at the Inyoeni Seventh day Adventist Church!
PERU
Members of the 3 de Noviembre congregation are happy with their new Maranatha‑built church!
PARAGUAY
KENYA
Donors and volunteers participated in a dedication ceremony of the new chapel at the Sala Adventist School.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Our group from the Conejo Adventist Elementary School in California not only worked on construction one team also did children’s programs in the community!
UNITED STATES
Volunteers helped to renovate dorms and more at Dakota Adventist Academy in North Dakota.
Kids rejoice for the clean, accessible water at the Khedachhera Seventh day Adventist Church!
UNITED STATES
Our volunteers completed two back to back projects at Andrews University, continuing our long term renovations on the women’s undergraduate dorm.
INDIA
Crews continue to make progress on the large Elementary Education Center at Pine Hill Adventist Academy, a haven for students escaping war in neighboring Myanmar.
Our in country team here continues to make good progress on the Nuevitas Adventist Church.
INDIA
ZAMBIA
CUBA
The 27‑member volunteer team, from all over the United States, stand in front of the new El Puerto Seventh day Adventist Church that they built in Peru.
VOLUNTEERS BUILD CHURCH ON SHORES OF LAKE TITICACA
In May, Maranatha organized a volunteer project to construct a new church building for the El Puerto Seventh-day Adventist congregation in Peru. The trip was open for anyone to join, and most volunteers didn’t know each other previously. But 27 new acquaintances from across the United States formed a unit of surprising cohesion and efficiency. They finished laying the El Puerto Church’s block walls ahead of schedule, then painted the structure’s front, exterior wall. Off the construction site, volunteer dentists treated 120 patients at a three-day dental clinic, and several volunteers visited a local Adventist school to help teach an English class and play games with students.
“Block laying often doesn’t go that fast. Those of us organizing the project
were busy keeping the group busy,” said Maranatha’s country director for Peru and Paraguay, Elmer Barbosa. “It’s clear that each of these volunteers came to work hard, and the results of their labor are proof enough of their success.”
Volunteers’ hard work transformed Sabbaths at the El Puerto Church. It’s located on the beautiful western shore of Lake Titicaca in southern Peru, but worshippers’ meeting place was less ideal. The group branched off from the central church in their town 35 years ago, meeting in rented spaces ever since. But these became too small for the group of 105 members. The church finally saved up enough money to purchase land. But the construction of a building was expensive and unrealistic–until Maranatha stepped in to help.
Across the street from the El Puerto
church building lives a woman who graciously offered her restroom for volunteers’ use. It was on such visits that volunteers noticed the peeling paint on her home’s exterior. So with their extra time and supplies, the group gave her house a new coat of paint. “It was a gesture of gratitude,” said Barbosa. “The group wanted to express their appreciation for her kindness.”
From 2004-2006, more than 3,000 Maranatha volunteers landed in Peru, constructing nearly 100 churches and schools. In 2019, Maranatha returned at the request of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South America. After a brief pause in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Maranatha’s in-country crews and volunteer groups have resumed work in Peru.
KANSAS CHURCH RECEIVES EXPANSION
In April, 23 volunteers gathered in Kansas to build the El Dorado Seventh-day Adventist Church. The project was to build an expansion for their church, which had been holding church services and potluck meals in the same space. The building also didn’t have room for Sabbath school classes or outreach activities. The new space includes a fellowship hall, kitchen, and children’s classrooms.
“Every single day I thanked all the volunteers over and over for their dedication and hard work,” said Francois Erasmus, pastor of the church. “They can perhaps not fully grasp the impact they have made in El Dorado and how fully appreciated they are by everyone.”
As Erasmus worked with volunteers on the project, he found himself inspired by their sacrifice.
“At least in one of the cases, someone took vacation. So instead of resting or going away, he took his vacation to help us,” recalled Erasmus.
“This is what the Church is supposed to be,” he said. “It was very uplifting. It touched my heart deeply.”
Towards the end of the project, volunteers rested briefly from their work to write messages of dedication on the frame they constructed. “It was an opportunity for people to write a message that is meaningful to them–a
Bible promise that is meaningful to them,” explained Erasmus. Although the notes will soon be hidden by insulation and drywall, the El Dorado Church building stands as a visible reminder of what is possible when we lift each other up.
TENNESSEE SUMMER CAMP GETS MARANATHA’S HELP
Each year, nearly 6,000 people visit Indian Creek Camp, a Seventhday Adventist summer camp and retreat center, to enjoy its activities and relax in a beautiful natural environment. But the 50-member team from Maranatha, who gathered there at the end of March, did everything but relax. Volunteers traveled from across the United States and beyond to complete numerous maintenance and construction projects for the Tennessee camp. Tasks included painting cabin interiors, staining cabin doors and stairs, rebuilding benches, and constructing skirts around several buildings to prevent their pipes from freezing in the winter. Their efforts improved the camp’s functionality and aesthetic appeal and were a huge help to Indian Creek Camp staff. “You know how much value that is, when someone can
step in and do that work?” exclaimed Camp Manager Ben Copley. “It blows my mind!”
The largest task the team undertook was painting a large, covered horse arena. This structure is vital to Indian Creek Camp’s equestrian activities. “We have unexpected rain throughout the summer, so this arena keeps our horse program going,” explained Copley. The shelter covers roughly 27,000 square feet and took a subgroup of volunteers two weeks to paint. “If I tried to do it myself ... that would take us a month at least,” said Copley.
This is the third group of Maranatha volunteers that have served at Indian Creek Camp since 2023. They’ve saved thousands of dollars in labor
costs and hours of staff time. But volunteers aren’t just helping Indian Creek Camp stay within budget, they’re maintaining the place where hearts encounter Christ. “[Summer camp] is such a mission. We have these young people, and we have their attention at least for a little while,” said Copley. “There are kids here that actually connect with camp … camp is where they really feel Jesus.”
BUILDING LIVES IN Christ
The irrepressible spirit of evangelism in the Dominican Republic.
Story and photos by Julie Z. Lee
Early on a sunny Sabbath morning, Edicta Mejia arrives at a small home, set along a busy street. She unlocks the door, turns on lights, opens windows, and straightens out the rows of white plastic chairs lining the narrow living room. Then, she grabs a broom and goes back outside to vigorously sweep the cement pad in front, pushing pebbles, leaves and dust into a trash bin. Soon, people will be arriving, and she will be standing at the front gate, welcoming people to Sabbath worship.
“We know we need to keep preaching and that people need to know Christ.”
This is Vida en Cristo Seventh-day Adventist Church in San Isidro, Dominican Republic. Edicta and her husband, Viloria, started this group only they weren’t always in this orange-hued house. Seven years ago, the couple noticed a few children hanging out by their home. Sensing their need for interaction, they began organizing games. “We started to play Bible games, brain teasers, anything that would kill time,” remembers Edicta. “And I would give a gift to the one who finished first.”
The entertainment proved to be so fun that more children started showing up at their house every afternoon. It was a crowd of kids, and it was a crowd that did not know the Lord. “So my husband said ... ‘let’s give them the faith of Jesus.’ And we started to study with them.”
In time, the group expanded to include
not only more children but their parents. A congregation slowly formed, meeting in the carport of Edicta and Viloria’s home, and soon 16 people were baptized. They were officially a group. From there, the couple grew the church, moving to a larger, rented location. They bought a projector, a speaker, and chairs.
Then, the pandemic hit. “They closed the churches, and we closed our church too. We didn’t have anything to pay rent with anyway,” says Edicta.
During this time, thousands of people died of COVID-19 in the Dominican Republic, Edicta’s husband died, too. Only he didn’t die of COVID. He had already been living on borrowed time, having been diagnosed with cancer years before. Doctors had predicted he would die in three months; he lived five more years.
In those five years, as the cancer ate away at his body, his spirit thrived. Not only did Viloria start Vida en Cristo, which is the only Adventist congregation in the area (he told Edicta “there should be a church in every neighborhood!”), he also organized multiple evangelistic campaigns.
Now, after years of working in partnership with her husband, Edicta is on her own. She is still carrying the mission to grow the church and relying on God to provide the way. She does it for the Lord. She also does it for Viloria.
“He was tireless, working, and his goal was to form a church. Today, when I see it, I think about that, and it gives me more strength because it’s his dream,” says Edicta. “He never got tired. He had a dream.”
About 50 miles to the north, in the small
town of Bonao, another man is working hard to grow the faith. Claudio Figuereo is an accountant by day and missionary by evening and weekends. After being an active member of a thriving Adventist church in central Bonao, Claudio wanted to take the gospel message to unreached communities.
“We felt we were not doing what the Bible says based on Matthew 28:19-20,” says Claudio. “Our church was already full, and outreach was focused on places near the church. However, people here were moving further into new areas–houses were being built, and it was time to go out.”
Claudio lives in this developing area. Given his passion for missions and his location, he, along with a handful of other church members, started to reach out to their neighbors three years ago. They held Bible studies and organized house visits to connect with new people. “We held our first evangelism meetings here, trying it out, and seven people were baptized.”
Today, a group of about 60 people–more than half of whom are baptized members–forms the Nuevo Jerusalem II Adventist Church. And just like Claudio, his house holds two identities– as a home and a church, because the congregation meets in his carport every Sabbath. He and his family, along with a few church members, prepare the home for worship, setting up chairs,
a podium, and sound system. Sabbath school classes are split between the porch, driveway, and in the yard of a neighbor down the street. It’s not an easy system–the carport roof is no match for the overbearing heat and incessant downpours–but it’s all they’ve got.
“If people need to use the bathroom, I lend them mine, right? If people need my house, I lend them the furniture. But imagine when it’s raining, the streets are not paved. Mud is a challenge, and if it’s raining, everyone comes into my house. So it’s not that easy. It’s not like going to church. You have to prepare for each worship day in order for the church to function.”
In spite of the challenges, Claudio and the congregation are motivated to keep growing. They need a real church, but for now this is what they have. In the meantime, there is work to do.
“We know we need to keep preaching and that people need to know Christ,” says Claudio.
The efforts of Edicta and Claudio are extraordinary, but they are not extraordinary in the Dominican Republic. Story after story of new congregations, as encountered by Maranatha, begin with a layperson’s impassioned response to the Gospel Commission–a conviction to share the Word as far and wide as possible, specifically in areas without an Adventist presence. Often
DOUBLE DUTY: Claudio and his family stand in front of his home, which also serves as the meeting place for the Nuevo Jerusalem II Adventist congregation.
they begin with little to no resources other than their own. From opening up their homes to taking up the pulpit to donating their own properties for a place of worship to spending every free moment knocking at every door, Adventists in the Dominican Republic are not afraid to invest everything into the church.
“Maranatha comes like an angel that God sends to help us.”
But this can only go so far. Where the layperson’s efforts hit a wall is when it comes to a place of worship. Sometimes, a congregation can afford to purchase a piece of land, and often the mission or conference helps. But building an actual sanctuary is often cost prohibitive for all entities, which is why so many congregations in the Dominican Republic are without a proper church. Garages, sheds, patios, homes, and the shade of trees are common substitutes.
“Our greatest need as a conference, is the construction of new temples,” says Hauris Paulino, president of the Adventist Church in eastern Dominican Republic, just one of the regions where Maranatha will be starting new projects. “We have a huge challenge in terms of improving what has to do with the development of infrastructure, because we have 250 congregations in the [east] conference ... And we are opening new churches by planting new congregations ... so we need to build more
temples, build more shelters, build more places where people can come and get to know the Lord and serve the community.”
For more than four decades, this is exactly what Maranatha has done in the Dominican Republic–built churches for congregations without a worship space. This will be the fifth time Maranatha has worked in this country. In 1980, after the destruction of Hurricane David, Maranatha constructed 160 houses here. In 1992, the Dominican Republic was the site of a watershed moment of growth for Maranatha, when the organization coordinated the construction of 25 churches over a threemonth period. Dubbed “Santo Domingo ’92,” it was the first time Maranatha concentrated on one place for multiple volunteer projects. Later efforts occurred in 2003 and 2013, and most recently, Maranatha has been wrapping up an extensive effort in the southeastern part of the country, where donors and volunteers have built 38 churches, along with an entire school campus.
This year, Maranatha will start responding to requests from the northeast, east, and central regions with commitments to build 11 churches, for now. Most of the groups are outgrowths of existing congregations, and some are daughters of churches that Maranatha constructed years ago. All of the churches need funding, and Maranatha will begin efforts to raise money for the projects and to recruit volunteers.
“The evangelistic spirit of the Adventist
Church in the Dominican Republic means that there is constant growth and a constant need for churches,” says Kyle Fiess, Maranatha’s vice president of projects. “And the pattern we’ve observed over the years is that when you build a church, they’ll fill it. Then the cycle starts again. It’s a good problem to have–a blessing.”
Says Pastor Paulino, “Our greatest need is for the church to grow, and one way to grow is to have the infrastructure necessary to welcome all those who open their hearts to Jesus. So our challenge is great, and Maranatha comes to be like an angel that God sends to help us, collaborate, join the challenge.”
In April, a team from Maranatha visited Bonao and stopped at Claudio’s house. They learned about his situation and checked out a plot of land down the street–land that could fit a church. For now, Claudio will still be hosting Sabbath worship in his carport. But not for long. Maranatha will be constructing a church for the Nuevo Jerusalem II congregation.
Says Claudio, “The church was very happy because if at any moment they felt a little discouraged by the discomfort, now they see a light, an opportunity. And they are very happy that Maranatha is coming to [help] us to be able to continue preaching the gospel in a place we can worship God in a more dignified, more comfortable way. And above all, we are happy
that everyone who comes will find a welcoming space, where they can stay and can share with others that Christ is the solution.”
As for Edicta, her congregation is now the recipient of a beautiful new church, funded and constructed by Maranatha supporters. As of late April, the Vida en Cristo Church was awaiting a roof, so the congregation was still meeting in the little house. But Edicta says she’s been to the new church often. She says she likes to visit the structure in the evenings and walk through the space while she talks to God. She sends prayers of gratitude while she strolls, holding her hands out and smiling as she feels the sun on her skin and the warmth of the Lord’s blessings.
She thinks about her husband. Her husband, who had been given three months to live but lived five more years to fulfill a dream.
“He forgot about himself and dedicated himself to the work. It’s something that gave him life...” says Edicta. “He lasted that long because he wasn’t living. Christ was living in him.”
Vida en Cristo means “Life in Christ” in Spanish. It’s what Viloria named the congregation so that others, too, could discover life everlasting in Jesus.
HUMBLE SPACES:
1 Edicta teaches Sabbath School to the children outside of the Vida en Cristo house church.
2 People squeeze in for shade as they worship in the Nuevo Jerusalem II “church,” which is the carport of a member.
3 Members stand in front of the Vista del Valle church, which they constructed themselves. This humble structure, draws about 50 people for worship each Sabbath.
4 People gather at the Torre de Salvacion church for a mid-week meeting. On Sabbaths, more than 130 people cram into this space.
5 Children meet under a tree for their weekly Sabbath School class at the Villa Centro church.
6 Members of the Nueva Barquita church meet under a tree for a prayer meeting.
A NEW ROUTINE
How Maranatha’s water program is impacting daily life in India.
By Sidney Needles
“There were a lot of struggles due to scarcity of water.”
Mannangi Bharathamma began each morning the same, marching in a line of women from her village. Lungs filled with fresh air, and muscles warmed by expenditure. They picked their way through beautiful countryside, but its charms were overshadowed by the task at hand. Mannangi carried–along with that of her metal bucket–the weight of survival.
Her destination was the closest stream to home. It wasn’t much to look at but Mannangi much preferred the sight of its murky waters to that of a dry bed. The latter signaled hard days to come. Mannangi tucked her sari between her legs and waded in. She carefully filled her bucket, using a thin cloth to strain out large debris, like insects, sticks, and rocks. With a deep breath, she hoisted the brimming container atop her head. Its weight was both an immense relief and a heavy burden. The return trip was always much more difficult. But after decades of repetition, her body was honed to meet the chore’s more strenuous demands.
After her mile-long trek, Mannangi’s work was far from complete. She poured her hard-earned cargo into her largest cooking pot, collected sticks, and started a flame. Her stove doesn’t spring to life with the twist of a knob and requires near constant attention to maintain a rolling boil.
Mannangi lives in a small village called Regidi in the state of Andhra Pradesh, in southeast India, where access to clean water was a challenge. While the village has a shallow well with a hand-pump, it has never come close to producing enough for all residents. So every part of Mannangi’s morning routine was mandatory. If she didn’t make the trek to the stream, she had nowhere to do laundry. If she didn’t haul water home, she had nothing to cook with. And if she didn’t boil any, she had nothing safe to drink.
Twenty years ago, the local government constructed a water tower in the community. But their drilling efforts were fruitless and, Regidi remained dangerously reliant on their nearby stream. “There were a lot of struggles due to scarcity of water,” recalls Mannangi. “We used to bring the water from the shore and canal. That [water] caused colds and fevers.” Boiling it can minimize this effect, but it’s not a foolproof solution. “If parents aren’t available to provide the boiled water to kids, they easily drink the [river] water,” Mannangi explains. “The water has leaves and some red colored dust in it. Kids cannot wait as they are thirsty at times, and they easily drink the water immediately.”
Regidi’s struggle worsened during the dry season. In this part of India it typically lasts from November to February. Both Regidi’s well and stream often dry up completely, threatening health and agriculture. “Canals are dug in the valleys of the mountains,” explains Mannangi. “Water from the canals helps in growing the crops. Other crop fields are solely dependent on the rain. If there is no rain, then there will be no crops.” Most families in Regidi are subsistence farmers–relying on their harvest for food. Any extra is sold, and that income
goes toward the purchase of household necessities. A lack of water for irrigation perpetuates malnourishment and poverty. Mannangi’s life revolved around her desperate need for water. Collection and purification monopolized large chunks of her time. And any idle thought was infected by the fear of its absence. But one morning everything changed.
On that morning, Regidi’s typical ambiance was replaced by the racket of Maranatha’s drilling rig. But Mannangi couldn’t care less about the noise, for a tiny sliver of hope had cracked fear’s grip on her heart. She stood transfixed as the crew worked. Women, who for decades shared her morning routine, did the same; the burden of collecting water was primarily theirs. They understood better than most what was on the line. It was thrilling–and terrifying. The crew drilled deeper and deeper with no sign of water. Mannangi’s hope shrank. Fear began to squeeze once more. But then the ground darkened around the drill bit. They struck water. And Mannangi’s routine was never the same.
Now, instead of marching in a line through the jungle, the women of Regidi stand in line at their new Maranatha well. With the twist of a knob, Mannangi has access to all the clean water she needs. There’s no need to strain or boil it, and she only has to carry it a few blocks home. At 405 feet deep, Regidi’s well produces enough water to supply the entire village–even during the dry season. It’s also enough
to water their crops, bolstering nutrition and household incomes.
In 2025, Maranatha plans to construct 105 water wells in India because Mannangi’s story is far from unique. In fact, Maranatha’s water program has been active in India since 2018, completing more than 1,000 projects. But scarcity persists. According to the World Bank, in 2024, India had 18 percent of the world’s population but only four percent of its water resources.
One water well may seem inconsequential in light of a problem so large. But for communities like Regidi, a single well changes everything. It creates time for education and industry, lifting households out of poverty. It provides stability and security, soothing decades of traumatizing fear. Mannangi’s Maranatha water well is a source of drinking water and a cherished reminder of Christ’s active role in her life. “If I am alive today, that is only to witness the miracle of God,” she says through tears. “My whole life is all from God. He saved me.”
WATER IS LIFE:
1 Mannangi balances a heavy jug of river water on her head as she walks home, a task she has to complete at least once a day.
2 Women travel to the local river for their family’s daily supply of water.
3 Mannagi carefully strains the dirty river water through a cloth, the first part of a long process to purify the water.
4 Maranatha crews answer prayers by drilling a well at Regidi.
5 The Regidi community shows off their new well, provided by Maranatha’s generous supporters.
PHOTOS BY MARANATHA STAFF
THE AMAZING SPIRIT OF SERVICE
Amazing Facts International serves in the Dominican Republic
By Sidney Needles
I“I want to make a difference in this world, don’t you?
Now’s the time to let our light shine on a hill.”
n 444 B.C., a man named Nehemiah answered God’s call to reconstruct Jerusalem’s walls. In April 2025 A.D., media ministry Amazing Facts International partnered with Maranatha Volunteers International for a somewhat similar project in the Dominican Republic. The 148-member volunteer team included Amazing Facts employees and members of the organization’s affiliate congregation, the Granite Bay Hilltop Seventh-day Adventist Church, in California. Like Nehemiah, this group left the comforts of home and traveled a great distance to build a place for God’s people to dwell. Instead of city walls, volunteers laid the block walls of a church building for the Lucero del Almirante Adventist congregation in east Santo Domingo. This group of worshippers is one of many in the city that are branching off from their packed central churches to hold services and outreach efforts in their own neighborhoods. Lucero del Almirante members are eager to share the gospel with friends and neighbors, but they lacked an adequate meeting place.
Meeting this need required volunteers to step outside of their comfort zones. “None of us are brick layers. Most of us aren’t even construction workers,” explains volunteer James Koerner. “It was hot. It was humid. So those aren’t the best environments to work under. It brings up stress ... but everybody kept their cool.”
Thankfully, the team had guidance from Maranatha’s in-country construction crew.
“Even though we started out with minimal experience, they came around and gave us tips,” says Amazing Facts president and Granite Bay Hilltop senior pastor, Doug Batchelor. “Every now and then, if there was a [crooked] block, they said ‘We’re going to have to reset that one.’ They pulled it out and put it back in again. We learned very quickly, so it ended up being a very professional job.” Volunteers’ drive for perfection and Maranatha’s high standard for structural integrity resulted in an extremely sturdy building. “The wall is actually built very well, and this building is ... the neighborhood shelter now, in the event of a hurricane,” adds Pastor Batchelor.
The Amazing Facts team didn’t limit their service to construction. They also operated free medical and dental clinics. “There in the Dominican Republic, no one has dental insurance, and so dental was by far and away the most popular service that we provided there. At the clinic there were just lines and lines,” recalls Roger Chene, who volunteered as a dentist on the team. “It was all hands on deck.”
The medical team also stayed busy, seeing more than 1,000 patients. “One little girl I had met–she was two years old–and she had an extra digit on her hand,” shares Todd Christensen, an orthopedic surgeon. “We brought her back into the tent and, just using kind of a headlamp and some lidocaine and a couple little instruments, we were able to fix her.”
“When we gave the report at our evening worship about what he did for that little girl’s hands–and you know she was disfigured, maybe teased by her friends–I said, “This whole trip was worthwhile just for that one girl,” recalls Pastor Batchelor.
Todd was pleased to provide such transformative care, but it was the group’s spiritual care that he believes was most pivotal. “You know the real blessing too was not just the procedures we got to do, but really a chance to introduce them to Jesus–a friend they can walk with the rest of their lives,” he says.
Yet another subgroup of the Amazing Facts team led Vacation Bible School programs at a local public school. This venue allowed volunteers to introduce Jesus to children who had perhaps never heard of Him before. “We were invited to come in and share the gospel with them,” recalls Granite Bay Hilltop youth and young adult pastor, Aron Crews. “We split up into three activity groups. There were games ... and then another activity was arts and crafts, and another one was storytelling different Bible stories.”
In addition to evangelism for a younger audience, The Amazing Facts team had the unique opportunity to speak about Jesus’ love on a larger scale. On the last Sabbath of the project, Granite Bay Hilltop associate pastor, Jëan Ross, and Pastor Batchelor preached at two outdoor venues in Santo Domingo. Thanks to a prime time advertisement on a popular radio program and Amazing Facts’ international reputation, the events drew a total of 16,000 people. “We got to teach and preach and share with a great crowd of people, and that was really the highlight for us,” says Pastor Ross.
The Sabbath events were almost cancelled due to a great tragedy. Earlier that week, the concrete roof of a Santo Domingo club caved in during a large event, killing 232 people. “The whole
city was in mourning because everybody knew somebody–two major league baseball stars were there, national singers, and politicians–and it was just a terrible catastrophe,” remarks Pastor Batchelor. “The [Dominican Republic] president said, ‘You know, we’re going to stop all public meetings during this time of mourning.’”
Thankfully, leaders of the Adventist Church in the Dominican Republic received special permission from the government to proceed with the Amazing Facts events as planned. “Our meetings almost got cancelled because of this, but instead more people came,” says Pastor Batchelor. “A lot of them were not members ... and so it gave us a great opportunity to preach the gospel.”
Although they took place nearly 2,500 years apart, the Amazing Facts project and that of Nehemiah are remarkably similar. Both involved sacrificial efforts to build, but their resemblance goes beyond their struggle or even the products of their labor. Nehemiah invited the Jews to participate in God’s plan for His people. He united them under the spirit of service–the same spirit which motivated Amazing Facts volunteers. “I want to make a difference in the world, don’t you?” asks Pastor Batchelor. “Especially in the time that we’re living ... Now’s the time to let our light shine on a hill.”
Scan to watch episode on Maranatha Mission Stories.
DWELLING PLACE:
1 Two young volunteers ham it up for the camera as they help build the Lucero del Almirante Church.
2 Pastor Batchelor and Pastor Ross preach to a crowd of 16,000 people on the last Sabbath of the mission trip.
3 The 148-member team was comprised of employees from Amazing Facts International and members of the Granite Bay Hilltop Church.
PERSISTENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND RESILIENCE IN CUBA
After years of waiting, Maranatha sends team of volunteers to Havana
By Sidney Needles and Julie Z. Lee
After seven years of a pause on Maranatha mission trips to Cuba, a team of 36 volunteers served in Havana, in April, for a 10-day project to assist with several projects in the city. The goal was to paint several buildings at the Cuba Adventist Theological Seminary and to repair a house that Maranatha is transforming into a home church.
“We’ve wanted to get volunteers back in Cuba for a long time,” said Maranatha President Don Noble. “But because of the global pandemic and the nation’s economic challenges, projects just weren’t feasible. This trip was possible with extensive planning. Paint had to be shipped all the way from Panama–a complicated process. This project’s success gives us hope that trips like it can be more common in the future.”
“The crisis generated by the pandemic was so hard that we are facing many struggles.”
The bulk of the work focused on the seminary, which Maranatha constructed in the 1990s. Volunteers painted several buildings, removing layers of old paint and grime before applying fresh coats. They didn’t finish all campus structures by project’s close but made great headway, painting the fronts of three building exteriors, the boys dorm interior, and cafeteria.
As with most organizations in Cuba, the seminary has been under much strain in recent years. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which crippled Cuba’s tourism industry, has continued to reverberate through the economy. Recovery has been slow, and resources have become more scarce. Ration stamps, food staples, medicine, and even electricity are in short-supply, at a premium, or non-existent. While this shortage is difficult for all citizens, it is nearly catastrophic for a campus that houses an entire community of students and staff. Power outages in a home might impact a family of five, but at the seminary, not having electricity means dozens of students and teachers have to limp through class and studies without lights, computers, or the internet.
“The crisis generated by the pandemic was so hard that we are facing many, many struggles...” says Elvis Hernandez, school principal. “So it’s been very hard for us to figure out how to manage this and run this institution. But I need to add that God is in control. God is making miracles for us every day, every year.”
Among the miracles Elvis counts is Maranatha’s involvement. Since 2022, Maranatha has been sending shipping containers full of essentials to the seminary, funded by generous Maranatha supporters. All the containers arrive in Havana for distribution to Adventist communities across the country and to benefit the seminary students as well.
Maranatha donors have also been assisting with operational costs for the institution, as the seminary is currently not self-sufficient. While such fundraising efforts are beyond the central mission of Maranatha, an exception was made due to the seminary’s critical role in the sustainability and growth of the Church.
“[The] seminary here in Cuba is the heartbeat of the Cuban Union,” said Hernandez. “Many people
are migrating from Cuba, among them many ministers and pastors. So if the seminary doesn’t exist ... we are not producing more pastors. So ... it [would] be making a huge negative impact [on] the development of the Church in Cuba.”
While the seminary is training new pastors, laymembers are also working hard to grow the gospel in Havana. Daisy Mederos Rodriguez is a 65-year-old woman who has established herself as sort of a Christian Pied Piper of the Casablanca neighborhood. Every week, Daisy prepares food and invites hungry children to her home to eat and learn about Jesus. For years, they flocked to her home for this special treat.
“I have been in Casablanca for 33 years now. I have never moved from here. I have always worked in this ministry,” says Daisy. “Approximately 130 children would come to my home and eat the food that I prepared for them. I gave them Bible studies. I taught them. Now they are grown with children of their own. And they say they found the truth through me. I thank God for having been able to serve them.”
These days, much of the food Daisy prepares is from Maranatha containers. And her home, which served as the base of this ministry for years, is no longer adequate for hosting people. She prayed that God would offer a solution, and that solution was presented through Maranatha.
While Maranatha has constructed more than 200 places of worship in Cuba, the complexities of buying property and securing permits to build a church has only gotten more challenging. Yet congregations are still in need of a place of worship. As a solution, Maranatha recently purchased two homes in Havana to serve as house churches–or “houses of light,” as they are called in Cuba.
One of those houses is in Daisy’s neighborhood, and she will be the caretaker, moving in to oversee the property. The home was in need of much repair and clean-up, and it became the focus of a second project for Maranatha volunteers. During their time in Cuba, the team added a new perimeter fence, did some landscaping, and painted the interior of the house. They also constructed a baptistry–the fulfilment of a special request by a special woman.
Says Daisy, “I asked for the baptistry more than anything. If I wanted baptism water to always be available so that many people
would be baptized and learn. Because if we are baptized we are saved, because we must put our old lives behind us. And I thank God that the first thing they started working on was the baptistry, just as I had asked for.”
Already, in the few short days he was there, Daisy touched the life of Mervin Eva, one of the Maranatha volunteers who helped on the Casablanca project. He says, “Seeing Daisy on fire--one can only come away with a renewed spirit of giving, of getting involved, of ‘What can I do in my community? What can I do back home?’”
“I have no doubt in my mind that this church plant is going to be lifelong. Many, many, many people are going to be converted ... Daisy’s life just the way she lives it’s going to change lives forever.”
Maranatha has been active in Cuba since 1994, building or remodeling more than 200 Adventist churches and the Cuba Adventist Theological Seminary. But Cuba’s declining economy has prompted Maranatha to adjust efforts. Donors have funded multiple shipping containers of construction materials and other vital supplies like food and medicine in response to island-wide shortages. In addition to house church renovations, Maranatha is currently constructing the Nuevitas Church building from the ground up.
Scan to watch episode on Maranatha Mission Stories.
RETURN TO CUBA:
Maranatha’s first group of volunteers in Cuba, after a long break, take a team photo. During their stay, people helped to paint buildings on the Adventist seminary campus in Havana and assisted with renovations at a church home.
PHOTO BY MARANATHA STAFF
If you are interested in helping Cuba, we are seeking donors to help us reach a goal of $10,000 per month to support the 100 students at the Cuba Adventist Theological Seminary. Call (916) 774-7700 or go to maranatha. org/donate and write “Cuba Seminary operations” in the comments.
DEDICATION THROUGH DIAGNOSIS
How one volunteer is planning his schedule around Maranatha, despite an unexpected diagnosis
By Dustin Comm
“It’s just a great opportunity to meet other people, to worship, to hear their stories and hear how God has been working in their lives.”
It’s not uncommon for semi-retired Maranatha volunteers to plan their year around Maranatha projects, especially in North America. Volunteers may serve at numerous projects, even traveling from one project to the next in RVs, often with some of the same group of people. Volunteer Kent Hammons has also been planning his future around Maranatha projects. After watching Maranatha from afar for years, the semi-retired public school educator finally got involved in 2024.
Kent has always enjoyed construction and for years taught students practical skills like carpentry and welding in shop class. Now it was his turn to put his experience and talents to use with Maranatha. At a motorcycle event, he happened to hear about an upcoming project that piqued his interest; a fellow rider suggested he travel to Wyoming to volunteer with Maranatha at the International Camporee, attended by tens of thousands of people from around the world. Kent took a chance and committed to the project, and in Wyoming he helped to construct a large stage and outdoor baptismal pools for the event. He had such a good time that he and his wife decided to go to Tennessee in 2025 to work at Indian Creek Camp with Maranatha.
During the project, they were paired with a fun couple from Florida whom they quickly built working chemistry with. Together they renovated cabins, fixed fences, and welded horse gates in need of repair, among other tasks. Kent particularly enjoyed the daily worships with the entire group of Maranatha volunteers, where he had the chance to play piano and be blessed by the testimonies of others. “It’s just a great opportunity to meet other people, to worship, to hear their stories and hear how God has been working in their lives,” he says.
He plans to make Maranatha projects a permanent part of his life moving forward. But one thing Kent hadn’t planned on for his future was a prostate cancer diagnosis. He found out about the cancer before the Indian Creek project, when doctors were unclear just how much was present. After more tests, they concluded its severity was intermediate and allowed Kent to serve in Tennessee, but scheduled radiation to begin in June. Kent knows these treatments may keep him from Maranatha trips for a while, which is frustrating, but he’s already making plans to
get right back to serving once he’s finished. “Once I know [I’m cleared], I could possibly go to the South Dakota project or others,” he theorizes.
Kent also has a van conversion project keeping him busy at home. He is working to convert a cargo van to a camper, which he says will help him haul his own tools to projects and help him get to projects faster. The rig will include a small kitchen, bed, storage, and more.
But why even worry about the next Maranatha mission trips or the work on his van? Why not just get past this medical hurdle and think about Maranatha when he’s cleared? “Why sit around and watch soap operas?” Kent jokes. “Stay active!” He says volunteering on Maranatha projects, even if his short-term schedule may not provide him with an opportunity to serve, allows him to give back by doing work that he enjoys, similar to how someone enjoys a hobby. It’s a work that he sees himself in because it’s God’s plan, no matter if his own best-laid plans are interrupted or not.
SCHEDULED SERVICE:
1 After teaching shop class for years, Kent Hammons put his skills to use outside the school setting on Maranatha projects in Wyoming and Tennessee.
2 Kent and his wife have enjoyed serving on Maranatha projects in North America and meeting new friends.
3 Kent puts his musical gifts to use during worship on a project.
Maranatha needs more volunteers like Kent on our North America projects! Unlike our international projects, there are no vaccinations or participation fees required. You simply arrange for your transportation to the project site, and lodging and food is covered in exchange for your labor. Check out a list of our upcoming North America projects at the QR code below.
PHOTOS
HOW YOU’VE Helped
ITÁ, PARAGUAY
BEFORE The Itá Seventh day Adventist Church in Paraguay met under a tree and in members’ homes before finally saving up for this small building that couldn’t fit everyone.
A look at how your support is making a real difference for communities around the world.
AFTER Now this growing congregation has plenty of space for members and guests inside their brand new church building.
LEAVING YOUR Legacy
The Edna Impact
A 92 year-old and her Bible study group are giving what they can to help others.
Edna Mason is a member of the Olive East Seventh-day Adventist Church in Merced, California, and she leads a Bible study group on Tuesday afternoons. “It’s not a big group at all,” says Edna. “Sometimes we have four or eight, and sometimes we have nine.” The meeting may not have a large attendance, but its recurring gifts to Maranatha’s work are having a huge impact around the world–like their most recent gift of $50 to the $10 Church program. Edna appreciates this initiative’s realistic giving goals. “Maranatha breaking it down like that, I think really helps people feel like, ‘That’s not going to hurt my budget. I can do that,’” she explains.
Edna believes that God inspired her to introduce a Maranatha offering to her group. “I think it was
probably the Holy Spirit that was giving me these thoughts,” she says. “I’ve gotten materials from Maranatha for a good number of years and have always been impressed with a great organization.”
She’s passionate about service, but at 92 years old, Edna’s physical strength isn’t what it used to be. “I wished I had known about [Maranatha service trips] when I was younger because I would have liked to participate more directly. But at my age I don’t think I can contribute physically to the building.” But her Bible study’s donations allow Edna to give what she can. “I just love the idea that there are so many different ways that people can grow God’s Church around the world.”
PROJECTS THAT NEED YOUR HELP
In 2025, Maranatha’s biggest area of focus is in the Dominican Republic, where we are building churches and finishing up an expansive campus project. Go to maranatha.org/donate to make a much-needed gift!
CHURCHES
Maranatha is constructing fully blocked churches in the Dominican Republic, in three different sizes: small, medium and large. The cost of these churches can vary. Call (916) 774-7700 for information on how to sponsor an entire church or make a donation of any amount to churches in the Dominican Republic.
CIUDAD DEL CIELO
SEVENTH‑DAY
ADVENTIST
CAMPUS
Maranatha broke ground on the Ciudad del Cielo school in 2023 and has been working on it steadily since. Featuring an Education and Evangelism Center, additional classrooms, and a large church, the all-inconclusive campus will feature the only Christian school in this growing suburb of Santo Domingo and the only Seventh-day Adventist church for miles. Already, interest from the general public is great, and church leadership expects a flourishing start. This school will be dedicated in memory of Darrell Hardy, former vice president of construction at Maranatha, who died unexpectedly in November 2022. This project is still in need of funds; please make a donation of any amount to this special campus.
Countries IN 2025
Here’s where Maranatha is working this year.
BRAZIL
CANADA
CUBA
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
INDIA
KENYA
PARAGUAY
PERU
UNITED STATES
CHURCHES
SCHOOLS WATER WELLS CAMPS
ZAMBIA
PROJECT Calendar
Anyone can join a Maranatha mission trip! Check out our upcoming opportunities here or go to maranatha.org for the most updated list. DATE
Aug. 4 - 21, 2025
Black Hills Health & Education Center Project SOUTH DAKOTA, USA Betty Beattie-Chrispell Construction and renovations
Aug. 20 - Sep. 1, 2025 Kenya Project KENYA
Sep. 3 - 19, 2025 Project Patch Project IDAHO, USA
Oct. 2 - 14, 2025 Brazil Project BRAZIL
Oct. 28 - Nov. 6, 2025 Zambia Project ZAMBIA
Nov. 4 - 18, 2025 Uchee Pines Institute Project ALABAMA, USA
Nov. 10 - 23, 2025 India Project INDIA
Dec. 19, 2025 - Jan. 1, 2026 Family Project INDIA
Mar. 20 - 31, 2026 Peru Project PERU
Go to maranatha.org to see all the volunteer opportunities being offered, including full projects and mission trips being coordinated by church or school groups.
John Thomas, Peter Thomas School construction
Doug and Melody Wheeler, Jon Yarlott Renovations
Loretta Spivey Church construction
Susan and David Woods Church construction
Betty Beattie-Chrispell, Jim Mills Renovations
Vickie and Bernie Wiedmann Construction
Karen Godfrey School construction
Vickie and Bernie Wiedmann Church construction
Thank You FOR SERVING
The following Group Project Teams served during the months of April through June.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Amazing Facts/Granite Bay Hilltop Mission Trip | California
Bluebonnet Missions Southeast Texas Team | Texas
Markham Woods SDA Church Team | Florida
CIUDAD DEL ESTE, PARAGUAY
Though hot and sweaty from laboring at the site of the brand new Mariscal López Seventh‑day Adventist Church, in Paraguay, Magno Parra Baez can’t conceal his smile as he rests on bags of cement. Magno and a handful of other committed Adventists are all too eager to help the Maranatha crew build their new church, because for years there’s been no Adventist church in Mariscal López. Magno hosts a Bible study for people in the neighborhood on Friday nights, and
on Sabbath the group travels quite some way to the nearest Adventist church. But he knows that having their own dedicated space in a quality building will help the group to continue to grow and spread God’s love.
“He guides us,” says Magno. “God is guiding this work in a fertile land where many families are being opened up. We have to win for the kingdom of heaven. And it’s with the help of our brothers and sisters from near and far who come to help
us very strongly ... so that more souls can reach the kingdom of heaven.”
This year, some of those brothers and sisters will be Maranatha volunteers coming to help raise the walls of Magno’s new church. Soon, Magno won’t be sitting on bags of cement at this site, but worshipping within the strong walls of a dignified house of worship. It’s a transformation he’s literally dreamt about, and because of God working through Maranatha, it’s finally coming true.
by
Photo
Dustin Comm
990 Reserve Drive, Suite 100
Roseville, CA 95678
Christmas Family Project - India
Travel into the mission field and see how God is leading ordinary people to make an extraordinary difference in communities around the world with our television program, "Maranatha Mission Stories."
HOW TO WATCH
BROADCAST CHANNELS (All times PT)
3ABN Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2:00 p.m.
Hope Channel Saturday, 3:00 p.m.
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